Toe spacing scuffs or sandals



Oct. 8, 1957 H. E. WEBB TOE SPACING SCUFFS OR SANDALS Filed March 8, 1955 INVENTOR. HELEN E. WEBB &

United States Patent TOE SPACING SCUFFS 0R SANDALS Helen E. Webb, San Diego, Calif.

Application March 8, 1955, Serial No. 492,821

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-11.5)

The present invention relates generally to footwear and more particularly to toe spacing scuffs for holding the toes apart when applying and drying nail polish or otherwise treating the toes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a toe spacing scuff which separates the toes without causing any discomfort and which can be worn comfortably for prolonged periods, and an ancillary object is to make it possible for the user to walk about freely while nail polish is drying.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toe scuff which is held securely on the foot yet is easily applied to and removed from the foot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sandal for use as a luxury or novelty item of dress.

Another object of this invention is to provide a scuff, one size of which will fit many sizes of feet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toe scuff which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toe scuff which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a scuff of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the scuff.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative form of the scuff.

Referring now to Figs. 1-3 of the drawing, the scuff comprises a sole portion 10, of pliable material such as sponge rubber or the like, shaped to fit the forward part of a foot. On the upper surface of the sole portion are four spacers 12, 14, 16, and 18 suitably positioned and spaced to fit between the toes of a foot. These spacers 12-18 are upright plug-like elements, circular or elliptical in horizontal cross section and these spacers are made of soft pliable material such as sponge rubber, and neoprene, said spacers being adhesively or otherwise fixed to the sole portion or molded integrally therewith as desired. The lower surface of the sole portion 10 is faced with a bottom cover or lift 20 and the top surface thereof is faced with a top cover 22, said covers being of fabric, plastic, or some other reasonably durable and wear resistant material and being cemented or otherwise secured to the sole portion.

At the rear end of the sole portion 10 is a foot encircling instep strap 24 which may be elasticized. The ends of the instep strap 24 are stitched or otherwise fastened to the bottom cover 20 and are concealed between said cover and the sole portion 10, as in Figs. 2 and 3.

Attached to the spacers 12-18 are a pair of retaining loops 26 and 28 which are looped around the instep strap 24. The loops 26 and 28 pass through the spacers adjacent their upper ends and are retained by knotted ends 30. The loop 26 is attached to the spacers 12 and 16 and the loop 28 is attached to the spacers 14 and 18, since it has been found that this arrangement tends to keep the loops in the preferred position on the instep strap 24, as well as more perfectly and aesthetically conforming to the foot of the wearer. Each of said loops has an upper reach leading from a spacer for a larger pair of toes to the upper edge of said strap, and a lower reach extending from the lower edge of said strap to a spacer for a smaller pair of toes, whereby said reaches of the loops are positioned to conform generally with the shape of the upper surface of the instep portion of a ladys foot. In other Words, the rear portions of the two reaches nearest the little toe are disposed at a lower level than the other two reaches, by virtue of their relative positioning on the instep strap 24.

When worn, the spacers 12-18 fit between the toes, the material of which the spacers are made being extremely soft and easily deformable so that the wearer suffers no discomfort. The instep strap 24 holds the scuff securely on the foot at its rear end, while the retaining loops 26 and 28 tend to retain the spacers erect between the t-oes. With the scuifs in place the toes are completely unobstructed, so facilitating the application of nail polish or other treatment. The spacers hold the toes apart so that smearing of the polish is avoided. The scuffs can be worn comfortably for considerable periods if desired so that the polish can dry thoroughly. The top and bottom covers 22 and 20 rein-force the sole portion 10, provide a good wearing surface and also prevent the sponge rubber material from picking up lint, dust, or other matter in its pores. The loops are used to pull the spacers into position between the toes.

An alternative form of the scuff is shown in Fig. 4, in which the sole 40 is shaped to fit the entire foot and has a thickened heel portion 42 for added comfort. As before, the sole is faced with top and bottom covers 44 and 46, respectively. The spacers 12-18 and the loops 26 and 28 remain unchanged. The strap 24, however, is replaced by a heel strap 48 shaped to fit around the heel of a foot, the ends of said heel strap being secured between the bottom cover 46 and the sole 40. Threaded through the loops 26 and 28 is a retaining strap 50 which is secured at both ends to the heel strap 48 by means of fasteners 52. These fasteners 52 may be snap fasteners, buttons, or other such suitable devices. The retaining strap 50 may be elastic or non-extensible as desired.

This type of scuff is worn in a manner similar to that described previously and has like functions. However, the heel strap arrangement holds the scuff more in the manner of a sandal and may be more desirable to enable the wearer to walk more freely and normally while wearing the scufis.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects.

fatented Oct. 8,1957.

It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

ltzis-understood that. minor variations from the forms of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

Toe spacing scuffs comprising: a resilient sole portion having four upstanding resilient spacer elements thereon disposed to fit between the toes of a foot; an instep strap having the ends thereof held in fixed relation to said sole portion; a pair of retaining loops; the ends of each loop being secured to diiferent spacer elements; said loops having the, rear end' portions thereof looped around the instep strap with each of said loops having an upper reach leading from a spacer for a pair of larger toes to the upper edge of said strap, and a lower reach extending from the lower edge of said strap to a spacer for a pair of smaller toes; the upper reach of one loop being crossed over the lower reach of the other loop and the reaches of the loops being thus positioned with regard to the elevation thereof to conform generally with the graduated vertical thickness of the instep portion of a ladys foot; said loops thus positioned and secured also being restrained from undue lateral shifting on the instep strap; and each of said reaches extending horizontally through the corresponding spacers and having a knotted end preventing withdrawal of the reaches-from the spacers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED- STATES PATENTS 736,194 Bassett Aug. 11, 1903 1,098,397 Pecorella June 2, 1914 1,875,162 Sayers Aug. 30, 1932 2,072,785 Wulfi Mar. 2, 1937 2,099,418 Bradley et al Nov. 16, 1937 2,505,076 West et al. Apr. 25, 1950 2,506,308 Maynier May 2', 1950 2,554,823 Goldman May 29, 1951 2,7 5 1,693 Baker June 26, 1956, 

